JP2017143307A - Method for cell phase matching and arrangement in dynamic array architecture and implementation of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for cell phase matching and arrangement in a dynamic array architecture.SOLUTION: A semiconductor chip is defined to include a logic block area having a first chip level in which layout feature parts are placed according to a first virtual grate, and a second chip level in which the layout feature parts are placed according to a second virtual grate. There is rational spatial relationship between the first virtual grate and the second virtual grate. A plurality of cells are placed within the logic block area. Each of the plurality of cells is defined according to an appropriate one of a plurality of cell phases. The appropriate one of the plurality of cell phases causes the layout feature parts in the first and second chip levels of a given placed cell to be matched with the first and second virtual grates positioned within the given placed cell.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to semiconductor chips, and more particularly to cell phase matching and placement techniques in dynamic array architectures.

  In modern semiconductor chip ("chip") designs, standard cells are placed on the chip to define specific logic functions. In order to ensure that each standard cell is manufacturable when arbitrarily placed on the chip, each standard cell has a design rule (DR) spacing requirement of 2 between adjacent conductive features. It is defined to have an edge exclusion region that is sized equal to a fraction. In this way, when any two standard cells are arranged next to each other, the exclusion region size combined at the boundary that constitutes the interface of these standard cells is at least between adjacent conductive features. Equal to DR interval requirement. Thus, the exclusion region allows features to be arbitrarily placed in standard cells without worrying about contact problems between cells. However, if many standard cells are placed together on a chip, the edge exclusion regions associated with the standard cells may combine to occupy an uneconomical amount of chip area.

  From the above perspective, it is important to optimize cell layout and placement so that chip area and routing resources can be utilized most efficiently, especially when cells are defined according to a limited layout architecture. .

  In one embodiment, a semiconductor chip is disclosed. The semiconductor chip includes a logic block area. The logical block area includes a first chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a first virtual grid. Similarly, the logical block area includes a second chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a second virtual grid. A rational spatial relationship exists between the first virtual lattice and the second virtual lattice. Several cells are arranged in the logic block area. Each of the several cells is defined according to an appropriate one of several cell phases. Appropriate cell phases align the layout features in the first and second chip levels of a given placement cell with the first and second virtual gratings positioned in the given placement cell.

  In another embodiment, a method for defining cell deformations with different cell phases is disclosed to allow placement of cells within a specified area of a semiconductor chip. The method includes an operation for identifying a phase space in a designated area of the semiconductor chip. The phase space is defined as the distance extending vertically between successive occurrences of the same relationship between two virtual lattices that have a rational spatial relationship within a specified area of the semiconductor chip. Similarly, the method includes an act of aligning the left boundary of the target cell with the left edge of the phase space. With the left boundary of the target cell aligned with the left edge of the phase space, an operation is performed to determine the first phase of the target cell based on the position of the two virtual lattices relative to the left boundary of the target cell Is done. The first phase of the target cell is stored in the cell library. The method further includes an act of moving the left boundary of the target cell from its current position across the phase space to the next possible position of the left boundary of the target cell in the phase space. With the left boundary of the target cell aligned to the next possible position, an operation is performed to determine the next phase of the target cell based on the position of the two virtual grids relative to the left boundary of the target cell. . The next phase of the target cell is stored in the cell library. The method moves the left boundary of the target cell to each of the possible positions in the phase space, and determines different phases of the target cell at each possible position of the left boundary of the target cell in the phase space. Continued by memorizing stage.

  In another embodiment, a method for placing cells within a designated area of a semiconductor chip is disclosed. The method includes an act of defining a respective virtual grating at each of two phase matching chip levels within a designated area of the semiconductor chip. Two phase-matching chip-level virtual gratings are defined to have a rational spatial relationship. Similarly, the method includes an operation for placing cells within a designated area of a semiconductor chip. The method further includes an operation for determining a cell phase required for each placement cell within a designated area of the semiconductor chip. Instead of each placement cell in a designated area of the semiconductor chip, a placement cell variant having the required cell phase is used, thereby laying out layout features within each of the two phase matching chip levels within the placement cell replacement variant. An operation is performed to ensure that the part is aligned with two phase matching chip level virtual gratings.

  In one embodiment, a computer readable storage medium including a semiconductor chip layout recorded in a digital format is disclosed. The semiconductor chip layout includes a logic block area that includes a first chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a first virtual lattice. Similarly, the semiconductor chip layout includes a second chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a second virtual lattice. There is a rational spatial relationship between the first virtual lattice and the second virtual lattice. The semiconductor chip layout includes a number of cells arranged in the logic block area. Each of the several cells is defined according to an appropriate one of several cell phases. A suitable one of the several cell phases includes first and second virtual gratings positioned in a given placement cell with layout features in the first and second chip levels of the given placement cell. Align.

  In one embodiment, a cell library stored in digital format on a computer readable storage medium is disclosed. The cell library includes a plurality of cell layouts corresponding to different phases of a given cell. A given cell includes at least one chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a virtual grid. The virtual grid is defined by a set of equally spaced parallel virtual lines extending across the cell layout. Each different phase of a given cell is defined by a different spacing between the reference cell boundary and the closest virtual line of the virtual grid.

  Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a semiconductor chip defined to include logic blocks according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the cell arrangement | positioning in the logic block by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a logical block area of a chip with two separate virtual grids defined on top according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary logic block with gate-level and M2-level virtual grids indexed to the origin at the lower left corner of the logic block according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the cell arrangement of FIG. 2B in which appropriate cell deformation is used on behalf of each cell based on cell phase matching required for various cell arrangements within a logic block according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating different cell phases that can exist in cells arranged in the logic block of FIG. 2A according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates different cell phases in which virtual gratings are phase aligned with each other without actually aligning with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating row 1 of the logic block of FIG. 2C according to one embodiment of the present invention showing exemplary gate level and M2 level layout shapes for each cell in the logic block. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for defining cell deformations of different cell phases that allow placement of cells within certain areas on a semiconductor chip defined according to a dynamic array architecture according to one embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for placing cells within a portion of a semiconductor chip defined according to a dynamic array architecture according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates examples of different phase matching within a second interconnect level of adjacently arranged logic cells defined in a DAS according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a virtual line defined in a dynamic array architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

  FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a semiconductor chip (“chip”) defined to include a logic block 103 according to one embodiment of the invention. Logic block 103 includes integrated circuit devices in the form of a multilevel structure defined on the silicon substrate of chip 101. At the substrate level, a transistor device having a diffusion region is formed. At subsequent levels, interconnect metallization lines are patterned and electrically connected to the transistor device to define the desired integrated circuit device. Also, the patterned conductive layer is insulated from other conductive layers by a dielectric. The structural features used to define diffusion regions, transistor devices, metallization lines, interconnects, etc. within each level of chip 101 are defined according to a specified layout. Further, the global layout at a given level of chip 101 can be segmented into a number of smaller layout areas, each associated with a given logical structure. Furthermore, layout areas in multiple levels of chip 101 in a given vertical column of chips 101 can be integrated with each other, forming a logic unit called a cell.

  The cells referred to herein represent an abstraction of logic functions and encapsulate lower level integrated circuit layouts for implementing the logic functions. It should be understood that a given logic function can be represented by multiple cell variants that can be differentiated by feature size, performance, and process compensation technique (PCT) processes. For example, multiple cell deformations in a given logic function are differentiated by power consumption, signal timing, current leakage, chip area, OPC (optical proximity correction), RET (reticle enhancement technology), etc. can do. It should also be understood that each cell description includes the layout of the cells in each chip level in the associated vertical chip column that is required to implement the logic function of the cell. More specifically, the cell description includes a layout of cells at each chip level that extends upward from the substrate level to a particular interconnect level.

  In one embodiment, logic block 103 is defined by arranging several cells of various logic functions in rows within logic block 103. For example, consider that several cells A-Z, each defined to perform a different logic function, are available for use within logic block 103. In this exemplary embodiment, logic block 103 can be defined by the placement of cells AZ within rows 1-10 of logic block 103, as shown in FIG. 1B. In this exemplary embodiment, the width of a cell measured from left to right over a given row can vary from cell to cell. On the other hand, the height of the cells measured vertically in a given row is basically the same for each cell, thereby adjacently defined rows composed of cells of matching height in the logic block 103. Makes it possible to fill with. Also, in some embodiments, the cell height can vary from row to row and / or within a row.

  A dynamic array architecture is a virtual grid (or regularly separated virtual grid) where the layout features are regularly separated within several levels of cells, i.e. several levels of a semiconductor chip such as chip 101. ) Represents a logical frame of the semiconductor device design defined along The virtual grid is defined by a set of equally spaced parallel virtual lines that extend over a predetermined level within a predetermined chip area. An equal spacing measured vertically between adjacent virtual lines of a virtual grid is defined as the virtual grid pitch. For example, FIG. 2A shows a logical block 103 area of a chip 101 with two separate virtual grids defined at the top according to one embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, one virtual grid is defined on top of the logic block at the gate level of the chip 101, and the other virtual grid is the logic block 103 at the second interconnect level (M2 level) of the chip 101. Determined above.

  In one embodiment, the predetermined level of virtual grid is oriented to be substantially perpendicular to the adjacent level of virtual grid. For example, in this embodiment, the virtual grid at the first interconnect level (M1 level) (not shown) extends in a direction perpendicular to both the gate level and M2 level virtual grids. However, in some embodiments, a given level of virtual grid can be oriented either perpendicular or parallel to an adjacent level of virtual grid.

  In one embodiment, each virtual grid within the various levels of the chip is indexed relative to the origin of a single coordinate system. This coordinate system thus allows control of the spatial relationship between virtual lattices within the various levels of the chip. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A, each of the gate level and M2 level virtual grids is relative to the origin (0,0) of the coordinate system located at the lower left corner of the logical block 103 area on chip 101. Be indexed. The origin (0, 0) of the coordinate system can be located at any position on the chip 101, and the logic block cell can be located at a specific position (for example, the lower left corner of the logic block 103). It should be understood that it is not necessary. It should also be understood that indexing a virtual grid to a predetermined spatial position means that the virtual grid is defined such that one of the virtual lines of the virtual grid passes through the predetermined spatial position. It is.

  The spatial relationship between the virtual lattices within the various levels of the chip can basically be determined in a number of ways. However, the spatial relationship between virtual lattices that are placed in a common orientation (ie, parallel to the direction of spread across the chip) is determined by a rational number such that the virtual lattices match each other at a particular spatial frequency. In particular, for any two virtual grids indexed with respect to the origin of the same coordinate system, the ratio of these virtual grid pitches should be rationalized so that the two virtual grids match at a specific spatial frequency. Can do. For example, FIG. 2A shows that the spatial relationship between the M2 level virtual grid and the gate level virtual grid is defined by an M2 level to gate level virtual grid pitch ratio of 4/3. Therefore, the M2 level virtual lattice and the gate level virtual lattice are aligned with each other for every fourth gate level virtual lattice line with respect to the origin (0, 0). Two virtual grids that are placed in a common orientation, indexed to a common spatial location, and having a virtual grid pitch ratio defined by a rational number are considered to have a rational spatial relationship.

  FIG. 8 illustrates an example of virtual lines 801A-801E defined within a dynamic array architecture according to one embodiment of the invention. Virtual lines 801A-801E extend in a parallel fashion across the layout, and the vertical spacing between these virtual lines is equal to the specified pitch 807. FIG. 8 shows complementary diffusion regions 803 and 805 for illustrative purposes. It should be understood that diffusion regions 803 and 805 are defined within a diffusion level below the gate level. It should also be understood that diffusion regions 803 and 805 are provided by way of example, and that with respect to a dynamic array architecture, by no means implying any restrictions on the size, shape, and / or placement of diffusion regions within the diffusion level. It is.

  Within the dynamic array architecture, a feature layout channel is defined around a predetermined virtual line so as to extend between virtual lines adjacent to the predetermined virtual line. For example, the feature portion layout channels 801A-1 to 801E-1 are defined around the virtual lines 801A to 801E, respectively. It should be understood that each virtual line has a corresponding feature layout channel. In addition, in the virtual line positioned adjacent to the edge of the prescribed layout space, for example, adjacent to the cell boundary, the corresponding feature layout channel is exemplified by the feature layout channels 801A-1 and 801E-1. As shown, the virtual lines extend as if the virtual lines exist outside the defined layout space. It should further be understood that each feature layout channel is defined to extend along the entire length of its corresponding imaginary line.

  FIG. 8 further illustrates a number of exemplary layout features 809-823 defined according to feature layout channels 801A-1 to 801E-1 corresponding to virtual lines 801A to 801E, respectively. Within the dynamic array architecture, layout features associated with a given virtual line are defined in a feature layout channel associated with the virtual line. Also, physical contact is prohibited between layout features defined in feature layout channels associated with adjacent virtual lines.

  Adjacent layout features can include both portions that define the working portion of the circuit and portions that do not define a portion of the circuit. For example, at the gate level, adjacent layout features can extend over both the underlying chip-level diffusion and dielectric regions. In one embodiment, each portion of the gate level layout feature that forms the gate electrode of the transistor is positioned substantially centered on a predetermined virtual line. Further, in this embodiment, the portion of the gate level layout feature that does not form the gate electrode of the transistor can be positioned in a feature layout channel associated with a predetermined virtual line. Accordingly, the predetermined gate level layout feature is the same as long as the gate electrode portion of the predetermined gate level layout feature is centered on the virtual line corresponding to the predetermined feature layout channel. As long as it conforms to the design rule spacing requirements for other gate level layout features in adjacent feature layout channels, it can be defined anywhere in the feature layout channel.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the layout feature 809 is defined in the feature layout channel 801A-1 associated with the virtual line 801A. Some portions of the layout feature 809 are substantially centered on the virtual line 801A. In addition, the other portions of the layout feature 809 maintain the design rule interval requirements with the layout features 811 and 813 defined in the adjacent feature layout channel 801B-1. Similarly, the layout feature portions 811 to 823 are defined in the feature portion layout channels of these layout feature portions, and a portion substantially centered on the virtual line corresponding to each of these feature portion layout channels. Including. Also, each of the layout features 811-823 maintains the design rule spacing requirement with the layout feature defined in the adjacent feature layout channel and any other defined in the adjacent feature layout channel. It should be understood that physical contact with the layout features is also avoided.

  As illustrated by the example feature layout channels 801A-1 to 801E-1 in FIG. 8, each feature layout channel is a layout region associated with a predetermined virtual line and extending along the predetermined virtual line, Vertically corresponds to a layout region that extends outward in each opposite direction from a given virtual line to any nearest virtual line that is adjacent or outside the layout boundary. It should also be understood that each layout feature is defined within its feature layout channel without physically contacting another layout feature defined in an adjacent feature layout channel. .

  Some layout features may have one or more contact head portions defined at several locations along the length of these features. The contact head portion of a given layout feature is defined as a layout feature segment having a height and width sufficient to receive the contact structure, where the “width” is the width of the given layout feature across the substrate. It is determined in a direction perpendicular to the imaginary line, and the “height” is determined in a direction parallel to the imaginary line of a predetermined layout feature portion across the substrate. It should be understood that the contact head of the layout feature can be defined by essentially any layout shape including a square or rectangle when viewed from above. Also, depending on the layout requirements and circuit design, the predetermined contact head portion of the layout feature may or may not have a contact defined on this portion.

  In one embodiment, layout features are defined to provide a finite number of lithographic interactions per controlled layout shape that can be accurately predicted and optimized for manufacturing and design processes. In this embodiment, layout features are defined to avoid a spatial relationship for each layout shape that will cause harmful lithography interactions in the layout that cannot be accurately predicted and mitigated with high probability. . However, it should be understood that the change in direction of these layout features within the feature layout channel of the layout features is acceptable if the corresponding lithographic interaction is predictable and manageable.

  In one embodiment, each layout feature at a given level is substantially centered on one of the virtual lines of the virtual grid associated with the given level. Deviations in the alignment between the center line of the layout feature and a specific line of the virtual grid are made available by the true alignment between the center line of the layout feature and this line of the virtual grid. The layout feature is considered to be substantially centered on a particular line of the virtual grid if it is small enough not to shrink. Thus, in this embodiment, layout features located at different chip levels according to a virtual lattice having a rational spatial relationship will be matched at the spatial frequency defined by this rational spatial relationship. In one embodiment, the manufacturing process window described above is defined by a lithographic focus and exposure area that provides acceptable fidelity of layout features. In one embodiment, the fidelity of the layout feature is determined by the characteristic dimension of the layout feature.

  In a dynamic array architecture, a change in the vertical cross-sectional shape of a layout feature immediately after fabrication is predictable from a manufacturing point of view, and a change in a predetermined layout feature or its adjacent layout feature As long as the production is not adversely affected, it is satisfactory to some extent. In this regard, the vertical cross-sectional shape corresponds to a segment in a plane that is perpendicular to both the center line of the layout feature in the as-manufactured layout feature and the substrate of the chip. It should be understood that a vertical cross-section change along the length of the layout feature immediately after fabrication can correspond to a width change of the layout feature along the length. Thus, similarly, a dynamic array architecture can also predict this width change from a manufacturing point of view as a change along its length in the width of the layout feature immediately after fabrication, and the layout feature or its Adapt as long as it does not adversely affect the manufacture of adjacent layout features.

  Furthermore, different layout features within a given level can be designed to have the same width or different widths. Also, the widths of some layout features defined along adjacent lines of a given virtual grid are brought into contact with each other and the sum of the widths of these several layout features. It can be designed to define a single layout feature having equal width.

  Within a predetermined level defined according to the dynamic array architecture, the proximal ends of adjacent mutually aligned linear layout features can be separated from each other by a substantially uniform gap. More specifically, adjacent ends of a linear layout feature defined along a common line of the virtual grid are separated by an end gap, and such end gaps within the level associated with the virtual grid are Can be defined as over a substantially uniform distance. Further, in one embodiment, the size of the end gap is minimized within the manufacturing process capability to optimize the predetermined level of occupancy by the linear layout features.

  Also, in a dynamic array architecture, a level can be defined to have any number of virtual grid lines occupied by any number of layout features. In one example, the predetermined level can be defined such that all lines of the virtual grid at this level are occupied by at least one layout feature. In another embodiment, a given level is such that some lines of this level's virtual grid are occupied by at least one layout feature and other lines of this level's virtual grid are empty, i.e. It can be determined not to be occupied by any layout feature. Furthermore, within a given level, any number of consecutively adjacent virtual grid lines can be left empty. Also, the occupancy versus vacancy of the virtual grid lines by the layout features within a predetermined level can be determined according to a pattern over a predetermined level or a repeating pattern.

  Further, within the dynamic array architecture, vias and contacts are defined that interconnect several layout features in various levels to form several functional electronic devices, such as transistors and electronic circuits. The layout features for vias and contacts can be matched to the virtual grid, and this virtual grid specification depends on the virtual grid specifications associated with the various levels to which vias and contacts will be connected. Is. Thus, some layout features within the various levels form functional components of the electronic circuit. Furthermore, some of the layout features within the various levels may be non-functional with respect to the electronic circuit, but nevertheless are manufactured to reinforce the manufacture of adjacent layout features. The

  A dynamic array architecture provides a high probability of semiconductor device layout even when the layout features of the semiconductor device are sized shorter than the wavelength of light used to provide the layout features in the lithographic manufacturing process. It should be understood that it is defined to allow an accurate prediction of manufacturability. Furthermore, the dynamic array architecture is such that layout features within a given level of cells are constrained within the feature layout channels of these layout features, and layout features in adjacent feature layout channels are present. It should be understood that it is defined by the placement of layout features on a regularly separated grid (or regularly separated grid) within several levels of cells that are not in physical contact with each other. Furthermore, it should be understood that a dynamic array architecture can be applied to one or more chip levels. For example, in one embodiment, only the gate level of the chip is defined according to a dynamic array architecture. In another embodiment, the gate level and one or more interconnect levels are defined according to a dynamic array architecture.

  Referring back to FIG. 1B, an exemplary logic block 103 is defined by the placement of example cells AZ within rows 1-10. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an exemplary logic block 103 with gate level and M2 level virtual grids indexed to the origin (0,0) in the lower left corner of logic block 103. In one embodiment of the dynamic array architecture, each of the cells A-Z can be used in the gate-level and M2-level virtual grids of the logical block 103 to allow each of the cells A-Z to be placed in the logical block 103. Should be based on. However, depending on where the cell is located in the logic block 103, the position of the gate-level and M2-level virtual grids may change within the cell boundary relative to the cell boundary. For example, the distance between the left boundary of a cell and the nearest gate level virtual grid line in the cell can vary between different locations of the cell in logic block 103. Similarly, the distance between the left boundary of a cell and the closest M2 level virtual grid line in the cell can also vary between different locations of a given cell in logic block 103.

  Each cell placed in logical block 103 must have its own cell-based gate level virtual grid and M2 level virtual grid matched to the logical block 103 gate level virtual grid and M2 level virtual grid. The position of the virtual grid at the gate level and the M2 level of the logical block 103 may change within the predetermined cell depending on where the predetermined cell is arranged in the logical block 103. The logic block 103 is such that at least one type of cell is defined to align its own gate level virtual grid and M2 level virtual grid with the gate level virtual grid and M2 level virtual grid of the logic block 103, respectively. It is necessary to have different types of predetermined cells available for placement within.

  In general, to allow cell boundary alignment to either virtual grid lines or midpoints between adjacent virtual grid lines, each cell has a virtual grid pitch or 2 of the virtual grid pitch. It is defined to have a width that is any integer multiple of a fraction. In one embodiment, each cell is defined to have a width that is an integer multiple of one-half the gate level virtual lattice pitch. In another embodiment, each cell is defined to have a width that is an integer multiple of the gate level virtual lattice pitch. In addition, each cell can be placed in the logic block 103 such that its left cell boundary is aligned with either a gate level virtual grid line or a midpoint between adjacent gate level virtual grid lines. Thus, if the cell width is an integer multiple of one half of the gate level virtual grid pitch, the right cell boundary is also the midpoint between the gate level virtual grid lines or adjacent gate level virtual grid lines. Will be consistent with one of the following. For ease of explanation, the cell placement is such that the left cell boundary of the cell is aligned with either the gate level virtual grid line or the midpoint between adjacent gate level virtual grid lines. This is called cell placement on the pitch.

  The cell placement on the gate level virtual lattice half-pitch depends on where a given cell is placed in the logic block 103 in combination with the rational spatial relationship between the gate level virtual lattice and the M2 level virtual lattice. Are defined in such a way that a layout modification suitable for a given cell is available for each possible combination of gate level virtual grid arrangement and M2 level virtual grid arrangement that can occur in a given cell. Allows creation of a finite number of layout deformations for a cell. In this regard, each layout modification in a given cell defines a cell phase, each cell phase being a gate level virtual grid arrangement with respect to a reference boundary of a given cell within a given cell, eg, the left boundary of a given cell And different combinations of the M2 level virtual grid arrangement.

  In the embodiment described above, it should be understood that the width of each cell is an integer multiple of the gate level virtual lattice half pitch, but not necessarily an integer multiple of the M2 level virtual lattice pitch. Thus, the left and right cell boundaries will match the gate level virtual grid, but the left and right cell boundaries may not always match the M2 level virtual grid. However, the cell phase matching method described herein allows for the placement of working M2 level layout shapes on an M2 level virtual grid. Thus, the cell phase matching and cell placement methods described herein are used in conjunction with a dynamic array architecture so that adjacent M2 levels that consume two adjacent M2 level virtual grid lines in one M2 level layout shape. It functions to optimize routing resources by not having an M2 level layout shape placed between virtual grid lines.

3A-3H illustrate different cell phases that may exist in cells deployed under the following conditions.
1. The cell is defined according to a dynamic array architecture in which a rational spatial relationship between the M2 level virtual lattice and the gate level virtual lattice is defined by an M2 level to gate level virtual lattice pitch ratio of 4/3.
2. The cells are arranged on a gate level virtual lattice half pitch, and
3. The cell width is an integral multiple of one half of the gate level virtual lattice pitch.

  The cell phase matching principle illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3H has any rational spatial relationship as long as the virtual lattice of logical blocks associated with cell phase matching is indexed to a common spatial location ( That is, it applies to any combination of chip levels (ie besides the illustrated gate and M2 levels) in a common orientation (in addition to a 4/3 M2 to gate pitch ratio). It should be understood that it can.

  FIG. 3A shows the first phase (ph 1) of the cell 300. Cell 300 includes a left cell boundary 301. Cell 300 is defined by a gate level virtual grid represented by a solid line placed in a common orientation and an M2 level virtual grid represented by a dashed line placed in a common orientation. The pitch ratio between the M2 level virtual lattice and the gate level virtual lattice is 4/3. Therefore, the M2 level virtual lattice and the gate level virtual lattice match each other for every fourth gate level virtual lattice line. The number of gate level virtual grating lines between the matching of the gate level virtual grating and the M2 level virtual grating defines the phase space 303. In general, the phase space is defined as the distance extending vertically between successive occurrences of the same relationship between two virtual lattices having a rational spatial relationship. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3H, a continuous occurrence of the same relationship between two virtual lattices having a rational spatial relationship corresponds to a continuous match of the two virtual lattices having a rational spatial relationship.

  Each cell phase is associated with a different allowed position of the left cell boundary 301 (eg, a reference cell boundary) within the phase space 303. In the example of FIGS. 3A to 3H, the left cell boundary 301 can be arranged on the gate level virtual lattice half pitch. Thus, the left cell boundary 301 can be placed on each gate level virtual grid line in the phase space 303 and at the midpoint between adjacent gate level virtual grid lines in the phase space 303. Thus, the phase space 303 covers four gate level virtual grating pitches, and cells can be arranged on the gate level virtual grating half pitch, so the number of possible cell phases is eight. In FIGS. 3A-3H, the position of the left cell boundary 301 in each of the eight possible cell phases is indicated by respective arrows labeled ph1-ph8. Since the gate level and M2 level virtual grids are associated with the logic block 103, the position of each of these virtual grids is shown even though the left cell boundary 301 is shifted through eight possible phases (ph1-ph8). Stays unchanged in each of 3A through 3H.

  It should be understood that the eight possible cell phases of FIGS. 3A-3H are the result of a particular specification of an exemplary embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, phase space 303 covers four gate level virtual grating pitches, but possible cell phases if the cell can only be placed on the gate level virtual grating (full) pitch. Will be 4 instead of 8, corresponding to the cell phases (ph1, ph3, ph5, ph7) shown in FIGS. 3A-3H.

In general, the cell phase is defined by a combination of index values at each of the chip levels associated with phase matching. The index value for a given chip level used to define the cell phase represents the distance measured vertically between the left boundary of the cell and the nearest virtual line of the given chip level virtual grid. . It should be understood that each phase matching chip level of a given cell has a corresponding index value. It should also be understood that the phase matching chip level of a cell is any chip level of a cell defined by a virtual lattice that has a rational spatial relationship with at least one other chip-level virtual lattice of the cell. Also, as described above, each of the two chip levels is a virtual grid placed in a common orientation, defined by a virtual grid indexed to a common spatial position, and determined by a rational number In the case of having a virtual lattice pitch ratio, there is a rational spatial relationship between these two chip levels. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3H, each cell phase (ph1-ph8) is defined by two index values: 1) G _index and 2) M2 _index , where G _index is at the gate level. It is an index value, and the M2 _index is an index value at the M2 level. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3H, each phase is defined by a unique combination of G _index value and M2 _index value.

The cell phase matching example shown in FIGS. 3A-3H shows a virtual lattice phase matching relationship in which two virtual lattices are indexed to periodically match each other according to the rational spatial relationship of these virtual lattices. Based on. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the virtual gratings can be phase aligned with each other without actually being aligned with each other. For example, FIGS. 3I to 3P show that the pitch ratio between the M2 level virtual lattice and the gate level virtual lattice is 4/3, so that the M2 level virtual lattice and the gate level virtual lattice do not match each other in any phase. , Shows another embodiment in which the M2 level virtual grid is indexed in an offset relationship with the gate level virtual grid. The same concepts described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3H apply equally to FIGS. 3I-3P. In general, it should be understood that the phase space 303 ′ of FIGS. 3I-3P is defined over an area between spreading successive occurrences of the same relationship between phase matched virtual gratings. In particular, in phase (ph1 ′), the index value at the gate level is given by G _index = 0, and the index value at the M2 level is given by M2 _index = (1/6) ^* G _pitch . Accordingly, the phase space 303 ′ extends to a position where the phase (ph1 ′) is regenerated, that is, a position where G _index = 0 and M2 _index = (1/6) ^* G _pitch . For ease of discussion, the remainder of the description herein is provided with reference to the phase matching illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3H.

  In one embodiment, the cell library is compiled to include a number of different cells defined according to a dynamic array architecture, and is further defined based on specific rational spatial relationships between specific chip levels. For example, with respect to the embodiment of logic block 103 of FIGS. 2A-2B, the cell library can be compiled to include cells A-Z, each defined according to a dynamic array architecture, and further M2 level virtual It is determined based on a rational spatial relationship of 4/3 between the lattice pitch and the virtual lattice pitch at the gate level. In order to ensure that the gate level and M2 level layout of each cell in the library can be matched with the gate level and M2 level virtual grid of the logic block 103, the cell library regardless of the cell placement in the logic block. Must include a deformation of each cell corresponding to each possible cell phase. Thus, for the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2B, the cell library must include eight different cell variants (one for each cell phase) in each of cells A-Z. The cell A to Z variants for cell phases 1 to 8 are denoted by A-ph1, A-ph2,. . . It can be shown as Z-ph7, Z-ph8.

  In one embodiment, the cells can be initially placed in logic block 103 regardless of cell phase matching, as shown in FIG. 2B. Then, based on the exact position of this cell in the logic block 103 relative to the gate level of the logic block 103 and the M2 level virtual grid, each placement cell is replaced by the appropriate deformation corresponding to the required cell phase. can do. In another embodiment, the appropriate cell deformation corresponding to the required cell phase matching can be determined when the cell is first placed in logic block 103. FIG. 2C shows the cell arrangement of FIG. 2B in which appropriate cell deformation is used on behalf of each cell based on the cell phase matching required in the various cell arrangements within logic block 103.

  As described above, each cell phase is defined by a combination of index values for the phase matching chip level. Thus, in order to determine the appropriate cell phase to use for a given cell placement, an index value for the phase matching chip level of the placement cell is calculated. Next, the calculated index value at the phase matching chip level of the placement cell is compared with the index values of the various cell phases to identify the matching cell phase. Next, the matching cell phase of the placement cell is used instead of the placement cell.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2B, each cell phase is defined by a combination of a gate level index value (G _index ) and an M2 level index value (M2 _index ). Thus, to determine the appropriate cell phase to use for a given cell placement, the values of the G _index and M2 _{index for} the placed cell are calculated. Then, the value of G _index and M2 _index calculated for placement cells is compared to the value of G _index and M2 _index of various cell phase, suitable cell phases are identified. Thereafter, the matching cell phase of the placed cell is substituted for the first placed cell.

To further illustrate, consider the leftmost cell A of row 1 in logical block 103 of FIG. 2B as the target cell. The value of the G _index of the target cell is calculated as zero, i.e., the left cell boundary 301 is aligned with the gate level virtual lattice. The value of the M2 _index of the target cell is calculated as zero, i.e., the left cell boundary 301 is aligned with the M2 level virtual lattice. The calculated index values (G _pitch = 0 and M2 _index = 0) of the target cell match the cell phase 1 index values shown in FIG. 3A. Therefore, cell phase 1 must be used for this target cell, as shown by the corresponding cell A-ph1 in row 1 of FIG. 2C.

For further illustration, consider the cell U located in the rightmost row 4 in the logical block 103 of FIG. 2B as the target cell. The value of the G _index of the target cell is calculated as ((1/2) ^* G _pitch ), where G _pitch is the gate level virtual lattice pitch. The value of the M2 _index of this target cell is calculated as ((1/6) ^* G _pitch ). The calculation index values (G _pitch = ((1/2) ^* G _pitch ) and M2 _index = ((1/6) ^* G _pitch )) of the target cell are the index values of the cell phase 6 shown in FIG. 3F. Fits. Therefore, cell phase 6 must be used for this target cell, as shown by the corresponding cell U-ph6 in row 4 of FIG. 2C.

  FIG. 4 shows row 1 of logic block 103 of FIG. 2C, which internally shows an exemplary gate level and M2 level layout shape in each cell. With the cell phase specifications appropriate for each cell in row 1, the gate level layout shape of each cell matches the gate level virtual grid of logic block 103, and the M2 level layout shape of each cell matches the M2 level of logic block 103. It can be seen that it matches the virtual lattice.

  The cell phase matching method described herein with respect to the M2 level to gate level rational spatial relationship is equally applicable to any number of chip levels. Furthermore, the rational spatial relationship between any two chip levels can be based on essentially any virtual lattice pitch ratio between the two chip levels. For example, the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 2A-4 is based on an M2 level to gate level pitch ratio of 4/3, while in other embodiments the M2 level to gate level pitch ratio is 3/2, 5 / 3, 5/4, 2/3, 3/5, 4/5, and the like.

  It should be understood that the cell phase matching method described herein allows for maximum cell occupancy within a given chip area, eg, logic block 103, without sticking to a dynamic array architecture. In other words, the cell phase matching method described herein ensures that the cell layout shape within the phase matching chip level matches the virtual grating at the phase matching chip level while ensuring that the cell in a given chip area. It is possible to place a cell at each boundary. Accordingly, the cell phase matching method described herein alleviates the need to expand the width of the cell to accommodate the alignment of layout features within the cell to multiple virtual grids, thereby providing a dynamic array. Allows use of optimized chip area in combination with architecture. In addition, the cell phase matching method described herein requires leaving unoccupied chip areas between adjacent cells to accommodate the alignment of layout features within the cell to multiple virtual grids. To enable the use of optimized chip area in combination with a dynamic array architecture.

  FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for defining cell variants having different cell phases that allow cell placement within a defined area of a semiconductor chip according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the area on the semiconductor chip can correspond to an area that is substantially smaller than the entire area of the semiconductor chip. The method includes an act 501 for identifying a phase space based on a rational spatial relationship between phase matching chip level virtual lattices. The phase matching chip level virtual grating represents part of the dynamic array architecture used to define the area of the semiconductor chip. As described above, the phase space is defined as a distance extending vertically between successive matching positions of two virtual lattices having a rational spatial relationship. For example, when the first virtual lattice and the second virtual lattice have a rational spatial relationship that matches every fourth virtual line of the first virtual lattice, the phase space is given by It spans a distance of four times the pitch of the first virtual grating extending during the continuous matching of the virtual grating and the second virtual grating.

  The method continues to operation 503 where the left boundary of the target cell is aligned with the left edge of the phase space. Thus, following operation 503, the left boundary of the target cell is simultaneously aligned with the virtual line of each virtual lattice at the phase matching chip level. FIG. 3A shows an example of a match between the left boundary 301 of the cell 300 and the left edge of the phase space 303. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 3A, the left boundary 301 of the cell 300 is aligned simultaneously with the virtual lines of each virtual lattice at the phase matching chip level (ie, the gate level and the M2 level).

When the left boundary of the target cell is aligned with the left edge of the phase space, the method calculates the first phase of the target cell based on the position of the phase matching chip level virtual grating relative to the left cell boundary. Continue to act 505 to define. The first phase of the target cell represents a first variation of the target cell that is suitable for placement on a semiconductor chip at a position that requires the first phase of a given cell. The first phase of the target cell can be characterized by an index value for each phase matching chip level, and the index value for a given phase matching chip level is determined by the left boundary of the cell and a given chip level in the phase space. It is defined as the distance measured perpendicular to the nearest virtual line of the virtual grid. 3A to 3H show the corresponding index values G _index and M2 _index at the phase matching chip level of the gate and M2. Act 505 includes storing the first phase of the target cell into the cell library for future recall and use. In one embodiment, the cell library is stored in digital format on a computer readable medium.

  Following act 505, the method proceeds to act 507 where the left boundary of the cell is moved from its current position over the phase space to the next possible position of the left boundary of the cell in the phase space. In operation 507, it should be understood that the left boundary of the cell is moved across the phase space without moving the phase matching chip level virtual grating in the phase space. FIG. 3B illustrates an example of moving the left boundary 301 of the cell 300 from its current position (ie, from that position in FIG. 3A) to the next possible position (ph2) of the left boundary of the cell in the phase space 303. Is shown.

  If a particular dynamic array architecture embodiment in the semiconductor chip area allows a cell width that is an integer multiple of the gate level virtual lattice half pitch, then the possible position of the left cell boundary in the phase space is Corresponding to each gate level virtual grid line and each midpoint between each adjacent pair of gate level virtual grid lines in phase space. This situation is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3H. If a particular dynamic array architecture embodiment in the semiconductor chip area only allows a cell width that is an integer multiple of the gate level virtual lattice (full) pitch, then the possible location of the left cell boundary in the phase space is It corresponds to either a gate level virtual grid line or a midpoint between adjacent pairs of gate level virtual grid lines in phase space.

  Once the left boundary of the target cell is aligned with the next possible position of the left boundary of the cell in the phase space, the method is based on the position of the phase-matching chip-level virtual grating relative to this left cell boundary To operation 509 for determining the next phase of the target cell. The next phase of the target cell represents another variation of the target cell that is suitable for placement on a semiconductor chip where the next cell requires this next phase. This next phase of the target cell can also be characterized by an index value for each phase matching chip level. Act 509 includes storing this next phase of the target cell into the cell library for future recall and use.

  The method then proceeds to a decision operation 511 to determine whether another possible location of the left boundary of the cell exists in the phase space. If another possible location of the left boundary of the cell exists in the phase space, the method returns to operation 507. However, the method is complete if another possible location of the left boundary of the cell does not exist in the phase space. After completion of the method of FIG. 5, the cell library will transform the target cell for each possible cell phase that may occur within an area on the semiconductor chip defined according to the phase matching chip level of the dynamic array architecture. Will be included.

  FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for placing cells within a portion of a semiconductor chip defined according to a dynamic array architecture according to one embodiment of the invention. The method includes an act 601 for defining a respective virtual grating for each of the two phase matching chip levels within a portion of the semiconductor chip. Two phase matching chip levels are defined to have a rational spatial relationship. As described above, two virtual lattices that are placed in a common orientation, indexed to a common spatial location, and have a virtual lattice pitch ratio defined by a rational number are considered to have a rational spatial relationship. . In one embodiment, the two phase matching chip levels correspond to a gate level and a second interconnect level. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the two phase matching chip levels can correspond to any two chip levels.

  The method then proceeds to operation 603 for placing cells within the portion of the chip. In one embodiment, the two phase matching chip levels are indexed against the lower left corner of this portion of the chip, and the cells are arranged in rows extending from left to right across this portion of the chip. Also, in one embodiment, a cell is a half of a phase-matching chip-level virtual grating in which the boundary of these cells placed in a common orientation with two phase-matching chip-level virtual gratings has a smaller virtual grating pitch. It can be arranged to match the pitch.

  The method then proceeds to operation 605 to determine the cell phase required for each cell located in operation 603. In one embodiment, the cell phase required for a given cell is identified by an index value in the placement cell at the phase matching chip level. As in the above case, the index value in the placement cell at a given phase matching chip level is the left boundary of the placement cell and the closest virtual line of the virtual grating at the given phase matching chip level in the placement cell, i.e. , Defined as the distance measured perpendicular to the nearest virtual line of the virtual grating to the right of the left boundary of the cell at a given phase matching chip level. To identify a specific variant of the same placement cell having the required cell phase, the calculated index value at the phase matching chip level of each placement cell is replaced with the corresponding index value of the same placement cell variant in the cell library. Can be compared. Then, instead of each placement cell, an operation 607 is performed that uses a specific variation with the required cell phase of the placement cell, so that the layout features of each placement cell within the phase matching chip level are Match the phase matching chip level virtual grating defined across the part of the chip.

  Based on the foregoing, in one embodiment, the semiconductor chip is defined to include a logic block area. The logical block area includes a first chip level where layout features are arranged according to a first virtual grid. The logical block area also includes a second chip level where the layout features are arranged according to a second virtual grid. There is a rational spatial relationship between the first virtual lattice and the second virtual lattice. Several cells are arranged in the logic block area. Each of these several cells is defined according to an appropriate one of several cell phases. Appropriate cell phases align the layout features in the first and second chip levels of a given placement cell with the first and second virtual gratings positioned in the given placement cell. It should be understood that a given cell defined according to any of the several cell phases described above is defined to perform the same logic function associated with the given cell. Furthermore, in one embodiment, it is important to define that each deformation of a given cell corresponding to various cell phases has similar electrical characteristics. In one embodiment, a part of the several cells is a cell boundary parallel to the virtual lines of the first and second virtual lattices at either the first chip level or the second chip level. Including at least one layout feature arranged in a substantially centered manner.

  In one embodiment, some of the cells described above are arranged in rows within the logical block area so that the cell boundaries that make up the interface are mutually aligned. Also, in one embodiment, the height of each of the several cells described above is uniform. The height of each of the several cells described above is measured in a direction parallel to the virtual lines of the first and second virtual grids. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the width of each of the several cells described above is an integer multiple of the pitch of the first virtual grid, and each boundary of each placement cell (parallel to the virtual line of the first virtual grid). ) Is aligned with the virtual line of the first virtual lattice. In another embodiment, the width of each of the several cells described above is an integer multiple of the pitch of the first virtual grid, and each boundary of each placement cell (parallel to the virtual line of the first virtual grid). Is aligned with the midpoint between adjacent virtual lines of the first virtual grid. In yet another embodiment, the width of each of the several cells described above is an integer multiple of one-half the pitch of the first virtual grid and each boundary of each placement cell (of the first virtual grid). (Parallel to the virtual line) is aligned with either the virtual line of the first virtual grid or the midpoint between adjacent virtual lines of the first virtual grid.

  Furthermore, while the cells arranged in a given logic block have been described in a phase-matching situation with respect to the above-described embodiments, in an alternative embodiment, the cell-phase matching method described herein is described. Should be applied to a portion of the cells located in a given logic block, with the remaining portion of the cells in the logic block remaining unphased. For example, the first cell group in a given logic block is defined according to the dynamic array architecture and utilizes appropriate phase matching when placed, and the second cell group in the given logic block is phase matched. The first cell group can be arranged and phase matched according to the methods disclosed herein, as defined by another architecture that does not utilize (ie, a non-dynamic array architecture) Cells can be left unphased.

  A dynamic array section (DAS) is a feature where features that exist at each vertically delimited subdivision level are between features within a given subdivision level and within separate subdivision levels. It is determined taking into account other features in this subdivision according to a set of rules set to influence the relationship between the parts. The DAS can be defined to occupy a substrate area of any shape and size. The DAS can also be defined to occupy an area of any shape and size above the substrate.

  Also, as described in currently-pending US patent application Ser. No. 12 / 013,342, conductive features within a given level of a logic cell, ie, within a given level of a DAS containing a logic cell, Can be indexed with respect to the origin of the logic cell. For example, the origin of a logic cell within a predetermined level is considered to be located at the lower left corner of the logic cell when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the substrate plane. Since the logic cell width is variable, the logic cell boundaries in the width direction may not always overlap the pitch or half pitch of the conductive features within a given DAS level. Thus, depending on the logic cell origin for a given DAS level virtual grid, the conductive features within the given DAS level of the logic cell are aligned with the given DAS level virtual grid when the logic cell is placed on the chip. It may be necessary to shift with respect to the logic cell origin. As described above, the shift of the conductive feature with respect to the logic cell origin at a given level of the logic cell is referred to as phase matching. Thus, phase matching allows matching of the DAS virtual lattice at a given chip level of conductive features within a given level of the logic cell, depending on the location of the logic cell origin. For example, if the gate electrode virtual grid extends across the logic cell boundary, the alignment of the second interconnect level conductive feature in a given logic cell to the second interconnect level virtual grid is maintained. May require phase matching.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating examples of different phase matching in the second interconnect level of adjacently arranged logic cells defined in a DAS according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 33 of currently patent pending US patent application Ser. No. 12 / 013,342. FIG. 7 shows three exemplary cells (phase A cell 1, phase B cell 1, phase C cell 1) located adjacent to each other in the DAS. Thus, each of the three cells shares a virtual lattice within each level of the DAS. To facilitate the explanation of the phase matching concept, the second interconnect level conductive feature 3303 of each cell is shown superimposed on the gate electrode level conductive feature 3301 of each cell. The cell boundary in the width direction overlaps the half pitch of the gate electrode.

  The 4/3 M2 level to gate level virtual grid pitch ratio used in the examples of FIGS. 2A-4 to illustrate the cell phase matching principle is the many possible virtual grid pitches that can be applied between different chip levels. It should be understood that this is an example of a ratio. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7, an M2 level versus gate level of 3/4 so that every second gate electrode level conductive feature pitch provides four second interconnect level conductive feature pitches. A virtual lattice pitch ratio is used.

  The origin of each cell is shown to be located at the lower left corner of the cell. Each phase matching of cell 1 at the second interconnect level is defined by indexing the second interconnect level conductive feature to the cell origin. As shown in the example of FIG. 7, the index of the second interconnect level conductive feature relative to the origin, ie, the spacing, is sequentially shortened in each of phases A, B, and C. Matching the conductive features defined in various logic cells within a given DAS level to a common virtual grid associated with a given DAS level by defining each level of each logic cell to have an appropriate phase The logic cells can be placed adjacent to each other in a common DAS so that they can. Furthermore, it should be understood that in one embodiment, adjacent cells in a DAS can be defined and arranged to share conductive features in one or more DAS levels. For example, the specific example of phases B and C of cell 1 in FIG. 7 is shown to share a second interconnect level conductive feature.

  In some embodiments, the dynamic array architecture can only be applied to a portion of one chip level, and the other chip level overlapping portions are not constrained with respect to dynamic array architecture limitations. Should be understood. For example, in one embodiment, the gate electrode level is defined to conform to a dynamic array architecture, and the higher interconnect levels are defined in an unconstrained manner, ie, a non-dynamic array manner. In this embodiment, the gate electrode level is defined by the virtual grid and the corresponding feature layout channel of this virtual grid with the gate electrode level conductive features defined therein, as described above. Also in this embodiment, the higher interconnect level layout features of the non-dynamic array may be unconstrained with respect to the virtual grid and associated feature layout channels. For example, in this particular embodiment, the layout features in any interconnect level above the gate electrode level can include bends to form any two-dimensional shape layout feature.

  As an alternative to the embodiments described above, there may be other embodiments in which multiple chip levels are defined according to a dynamic array architecture. It should be understood that the phase matching techniques disclosed herein are equally applicable to any embodiment that uses a dynamic array architecture, regardless of the number of chip levels defined according to the dynamic array architecture. .

  It should be understood that the cell phase matching techniques disclosed herein can be defined in a layout that is stored in a tangible form, such as a digital format, on a computer readable medium. For example, the cell phase matching layout disclosed herein can be stored in a layout data file of one or more cells that can be selected from one or more cell libraries. The layout data file is formatted as a GDSII (Graphic Data System) database file, an OASIS (Open Artwork System Interchange Standard) database file, or any other type of data file format suitable for storing and communicating semiconductor device layouts. be able to. Also, multi-level layouts that utilize cell phase matching techniques can be included within multi-level layouts of larger semiconductor devices. Multilevel layouts of larger semiconductor devices can also be stored in the form of layout data files such as those described above.

  Also, the invention described herein can be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. For example, the computer readable code can include a layout data file in which one or more layouts including cell phase matching techniques are stored. The computer readable code may also include one or more layout libraries and / or program instructions for selecting cells that include layouts that utilize cell phase matching techniques defined therein. The layout library and / or cell can be stored in digital format on a computer-readable medium.

  The computer-readable medium described herein is any data storage device that can store data, which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of computer readable media include hard drives, network attached storage (NAS), read only memory, random access memory, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, and other optical and non-memory. Includes optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can be distributed over a network of coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

  Any of the operations described herein that form part of the present invention are useful machine operations. The present invention also relates to a device or apparatus for performing these operations. The device may be specially configured for the required purpose, such as a special purpose computer. When defined as a special purpose computer, the computer can execute other processes, program executions, or routines that are not part of the special purpose, and can still operate for this special purpose. . Alternatively, the operation can be handled by a general purpose computer that is selectively operated or configured by one or more computer programs stored in computer memory, cache, or obtained over a network. If the data is obtained over a network, it can be processed by other computers on the network, for example a cloud of computer resources.

  Embodiments of the invention can be defined as a machine that converts data from one state to another. The data can be represented as an article that can be represented as an electronic signal and an article that manipulates the data electronically. The transformed data, in some cases, can be shown visually on the display and represents a physical object resulting from the transformation of the data. The transformed data can be stored in storage in a common or specific format that allows for the construction or rendering of physical and tangible objects. In some embodiments, the operation can be performed by a processor. Thus, in such an example, the processor converts data from one to another. Yet another method can be handled by one or more machines or processors that can be connected over a network. Each machine can convert data from one state or thing to another, or process data, store data in storage, transmit data over the network, and display the results Or the result can be communicated to another machine.

  It should further be appreciated that the cell phase matching embodiments disclosed herein can be manufactured as part of a semiconductor device or chip. In the manufacture of semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits, memory cells, etc., a series of manufacturing operations are performed that define features on a semiconductor wafer. The wafer includes integrated circuit devices in the form of multilevel structures defined on a silicon substrate. At the substrate level, a transistor device having a diffusion region is formed. Within subsequent levels, interconnect metallization lines are patterned and electrically connected to transistor devices to define the desired integrated circuit device. Also, the patterned conductive layer is insulated from other conductive layers by a dielectric.

  Although the present invention has been described using some embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand various modifications, additions, substitutions, and equivalents of these embodiments after reading the above specification and reviewing the drawings. Will be understood. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, additions, substitutions and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

3301 Gate electrode level conductive feature 3303 Second interconnect level conductive feature DAS dynamic array section

Claims (39)

A first chip level in which the layout feature is arranged according to the first virtual grid; and a second chip level in which the layout feature is arranged according to the second virtual grid, the first and second virtual levels Logical block areas where there is a rational spatial relationship between the lattices;
A plurality of cells arranged in the logic block area;
Including
Each of the plurality of cells is defined according to a suitable one of a plurality of cell phases;
The appropriate one of the plurality of cell phases is the first and second when the first and second chip level layout features of a given placement cell are positioned in the given placement cell. Align with the second virtual lattice,
A semiconductor chip characterized by that. The first virtual lattice is defined by an equally spaced first set of parallel virtual lines extending across the first chip level within the logic block area;
The second virtual grid is defined by a second set of equally spaced parallel virtual lines extending across the second chip level within the logic block area.
The semiconductor chip according to claim 1.   The rational spatial relationship between the first and second virtual lattices is such that the first and second virtual lattices are placed in a common orientation, indexed to a common spatial location, and a rational number The semiconductor chip according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a ratio of their virtual lattice pitches defined by   The semiconductor chip according to claim 3, wherein the first and second virtual lattices are periodically aligned with each other according to the rational spatial relationship.   4. The semiconductor chip according to claim 3, wherein the first and second virtual gratings do not match each other in any of the plurality of cell phases.   The semiconductor chip according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined cell defined according to any of the plurality of cell phases is defined to perform the same logic function associated with the predetermined cell.   The semiconductor chip according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in rows in the logic block area such that cell boundaries constituting the interface are mutually aligned. The height of each of the plurality of cells is uniform;
The height of each of the plurality of cells is measured in a direction parallel to an imaginary line of the first and second virtual lattices;
The semiconductor chip according to claim 1. The width of each of the plurality of cells is an integer multiple of the pitch of the first virtual lattice;
Each boundary of each placement cell parallel to the virtual line of the first virtual lattice is aligned with the virtual line of the first virtual lattice;
The semiconductor chip according to claim 1. The width of each of the plurality of cells is an integer multiple of the pitch of the first virtual lattice;
Each boundary of each placement cell parallel to the virtual line of the first virtual grid is aligned with a midpoint between adjacent virtual lines of the first virtual grid;
The semiconductor chip according to claim 1. The width of each of the plurality of cells is an integer multiple of one half of the pitch of the first virtual lattice;
Each boundary of each placement cell parallel to the virtual line of the first virtual grid is aligned with either the virtual line of the first virtual grid or the midpoint between adjacent virtual lines of the first virtual grid. The
The semiconductor chip according to claim 1. Each of the plurality of cell phases is defined by a first index value for the first chip level and by a second index value for the second chip level;
The first index value is equal to a first distance extending perpendicularly from the left boundary of the predetermined placement cell in the right direction to the nearest virtual line of the first virtual lattice;
The second index value is equal to a second distance extending perpendicularly from the left boundary of the predetermined placement cell to the nearest virtual line of the second virtual lattice in the right direction.
The semiconductor chip according to claim 1.   2. The semiconductor chip of claim 1, wherein the first chip level is a gate level of the semiconductor chip and the second chip level is a second interconnect level of the semiconductor chip.   The rational spatial relationship between the first and second virtual lattices is defined by a virtual lattice pitch ratio of 3/4 between the second interconnect level and the gate level. Item 14. A semiconductor chip according to Item 13.   A portion of the plurality of cells including at least one layout feature disposed in a manner that is substantially centered along a cell boundary parallel to an imaginary line of the first and second virtual lattices; 2. The semiconductor chip according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor chip exists at either the first chip level or the second chip level. A method for defining cell deformations of different cell phases to enable placement of cells within a specified area of a semiconductor chip, comprising:
a) a phase defined relative to a specified area of the semiconductor chip as a vertically extending distance between successive occurrences of the same relationship between two virtual lattices having a rational spatial relationship within the specified area of the semiconductor chip Identifying the space,
b) aligning the left boundary of the target cell with the left edge of the phase space;
c) with the left boundary of the target cell aligned with the left edge of the phase space, based on the position of the two virtual lattices relative to the left boundary of the target cell. Determining the phase of 1;
d) storing the first phase of the target cell in a cell library;
e) moving the left boundary of the target cell from its current position across the phase space to the next possible position of the left boundary of the target cell in the phase space;
f) With the left boundary of the target cell aligned with the next possible position, the next phase of the target cell is determined based on the position of the two virtual lattices relative to the left boundary of the target cell. Stage of determination,
g) storing the next phase of the target cell in the cell library; and h) operating for each possible position of the left boundary of the target cell in the phase space from e) to g). Repeat steps,
A method comprising the steps of:   The method of claim 16, wherein each of the two virtual lattices is defined by a respective set of equally spaced parallel virtual lines extending across a respective chip level in the designated area of the semiconductor chip.   The rational spatial relationship between the two virtual lattices is defined by a rational number, the two virtual lattices being placed in a common orientation, indexed to a common spatial location on the semiconductor chip, and The method according to claim 16, characterized by having a ratio of their virtual lattice pitches. The predetermined phase of the target cell represents a deformation of the target cell defined relative to the placement of the semiconductor chip in the designated area that requires the predetermined phase of the target cell;
Each phase of the target cell is defined to perform the same logic function associated with the target cell;
The method according to claim 16.   Each phase of the target cell is characterized by a set of index values including a respective index value for each of the two virtual gratings defining the phase space, and for a particular virtual grating at a particular phase of the target cell The index value is defined as a distance measured vertically between the left boundary of the target cell and the closest virtual line of the particular virtual grid in the phase space. The method described.   The set of possible positions of the left boundary of the target cell in the phase space includes each allowable cell boundary position for one of the two virtual gratings in the phase space. Item 17. The method according to Item 16. A first virtual lattice of the two virtual lattices is defined with respect to a gate level of the semiconductor chip;
A second virtual lattice of the two virtual lattices is defined for a second interconnect level of the semiconductor chip;
The method according to claim 16.   The rational spatial relationship between the first and second virtual lattices is defined by a virtual lattice pitch ratio of 3/4 between the second interconnect level and the gate level. Item 23. The method according to Item 22.   The method of claim 16, wherein the cell library is stored in digital format on a computer readable medium. A method of arranging cells in a designated area of a semiconductor chip,
Defining a respective virtual grating for each of the two phase-matching chip levels within a designated area of the semiconductor chip defined such that the two phase-matching chip-level virtual gratings have a rational spatial relationship;
Placing a cell in the designated area of the semiconductor chip;
Determining the cell phase required for each placement cell in the designated area of the semiconductor chip;
Each placement in the specified area of the semiconductor chip such that a layout feature at each of the two phase matching chip levels is aligned with the virtual grating at the two phase matching chip levels within a replacement variation of the placement cell. Substituting with a modification of the placement cell having the required cell phase instead of a cell;
A method comprising the steps of: Each of the virtual gratings is defined by a respective set of equally spaced parallel virtual lines extending across its corresponding phase-matching chip level in the designated area of the semiconductor chip;
The rational spatial relationship between the two phase matching chip levels is such that the virtual gratings of the two phase matching chip levels are oriented in a common orientation and indexed to a common spatial location on the semiconductor chip. And having a ratio of their virtual lattice pitches defined by rational numbers,
26. The method of claim 25.   The method of claim 25, wherein the two phase matching chip levels correspond to a gate level and a second interconnect level, respectively. Both of the two phase-matching chip levels are indexed relative to the lower left corner of the designated area of the semiconductor chip, and their virtual gratings are oriented in a direction extending vertically across the designated area of the semiconductor chip;
The cells are arranged in rows extending horizontally across the designated area of the semiconductor chip such that the width of each cell is measured in a direction perpendicular to the virtual grating of the two phase matching chip levels.
26. The method of claim 25. The lower virtual grating of the two phase matching chip levels defines a base virtual grating;
Each cell is defined to have a width that is an integer multiple of the pitch of the base virtual lattice;
Each cell is positioned to align its cell boundary parallel to the virtual line of the base virtual grid with a midpoint between adjacent virtual lines of the base virtual grid;
26. The method of claim 25. The lower virtual grating of the two phase matching chip levels defines a base virtual grating;
Each cell is defined to have a width that is an integer multiple of one half of the pitch of the base virtual lattice;
Each cell is arranged to align its cell boundary parallel to the virtual line of the base virtual grid with either the midpoint between adjacent virtual lines of the base virtual grid or the virtual line of the base virtual grid; 26. The method of claim 25. The required cell phase for a given placement cell is identified by respective index values for the two phase matching chip levels;
An index value for a particular phase-matching chip level in the placement cell is measured vertically to the right between the left boundary of the placement cell and the closest virtual line of the virtual grating at the particular phase-matching chip level. Determined as a distance,
26. The method of claim 25. For each placement cell, calculating an index value for the two phase matching chip levels of the placement cell;
The placement cell having a matching index value that compares the calculated index value against a corresponding index value of a variant of the placement cell in a cell library and replaces the placement cell in the designated area of the semiconductor chip. Identifying a particular variant of
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising: A computer readable storage medium having a semiconductor chip layout recorded in a digital format,
The semiconductor chip layout includes a logic block area including a first chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a first virtual lattice and a second chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a second virtual lattice. Including
A rational spatial relationship exists between the first and second virtual lattices;
The semiconductor chip layout also includes a plurality of cells disposed within the logic block area;
Each of the plurality of cells is defined according to a suitable one of a plurality of cell phases;
The appropriate one of the plurality of cell phases includes the first and second layout features when the layout features at the first and second chip levels of the predetermined cell are positioned in the predetermined cell. Align with the second virtual lattice,
A computer-readable storage medium.   The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the digital format is a data file format for storing and communicating with one or more semiconductor device layouts.   34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, comprising program instructions for accessing the semiconductor chip layout or a portion thereof and retrieving it from the computer readable storage medium in the digital format.   The program instructions for accessing and retrieving include program instructions for selecting a library, cell, or both library and cell that includes a selectable portion of the semiconductor chip layout in the digital format. Item 36. The computer-readable storage medium according to Item 35. A cell library stored in digital format on a computer readable storage medium,
Multiple cell layouts corresponding to different phases of a given cell,
Including
The predetermined cell includes at least one chip level in which layout features are arranged according to a virtual grid;
The virtual grid is defined by a set of parallel equally spaced virtual lines extending across the cell layout;
Each different phase of the given cell is defined by a different spacing between a reference cell boundary and the closest virtual line of the virtual lattice;
A cell library characterized by that.   Any predetermined layout feature arranged in accordance with the virtual grid is lengthwise along a predetermined virtual line of the virtual grid and in a width direction between adjacent virtual lines adjacent to the predetermined virtual line. The cell library stored in digital format on a computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the cell library is defined in an extended feature layout channel.   Each layout feature defined in a given feature layout channel is prohibited from physically contacting any other layout feature defined in any other feature layout channel. 40. A cell library stored in digital format on a computer readable storage medium according to claim 38.

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